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Viewing These Early Images, Whether in Painting Or in in the Southern Song Period in China, the Names of Five Figure 3

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Viewing These Early Images, Whether in Painting Or in in the Southern Song Period in China, the Names of Five Figure 3 1. Pindola Bharadvaja, residing in Aparagodana, who is often shown holding a small pagoda, or a book and an The Appeal of the Arhat Image: almsbowl. (see fig.3). 2. Kanakavatsa, who holds a looped cord or a jeweled pasha (precious lasso) and resides on saffron peak in Kashmir. 3. Kanaka Bharadvaja, who holds his hands in a meditative The Lure of the Lohan mudra and resides in Purva videha. 4. Subinda, who resides in Uttara kuru 5. Bakula or Nakula, who holds a mongoose spitting Amy Poster jewels (see fig.5). 6. Bhadra, who holds a book. Curator of Asian Art & Department Head, The Brooklyn Museum 7 Kalika, who holds two golden trinkets and resides in Samghatadvipa (see fig.1). 8 Vajraputra, who holds a fly whisk, whose right hand is in vitarka mudra, and who resides in Paranadvipa. (see fig.6) 9. Cvapaka or Gopaka, who holds a book and resides on ARHATS AS THEY ARE KNOWN (IN SANSKRIT) IN INDIA,or Mount Ganhamadana (see fig.7). lohans as they are known in China, or rakan in Japan, are a 10. Panthaka, who holds a book and resides in the subject of Buddhist art that has been popular throughout Trayastrimsha Asia. Although arhat images were created in India, in 11. Rahula, who holds a jeweled tiara and resides in Priyan- China, in Tibet and in Japan, they are often mistaken for gudvipa bodhisattvas or other Buddhist divinities, and learned 12. Nagasena, who holds a libation vase on a staff and writing about them in English is relatively scarce.1 A brief resides on Mt. Potalaka survey of this fascinating subject is therefore appropriate as 13. Ingada or Angaja, who is often shown with an incense an introduction to the handbook for an exhibition where a burner, fly whisk and Indian writing, residing on Mt. number of such images are likely to be found. Vipulaparshva. Marylin Rhie, in Wisdom and Compassion: the Sacred Art 14. Vanavasin, usually shown seated holding a fly whisk (see of Tibet, describes arhats as “enlightened Buddhist monks fig.4). who remain in this world to maintain the Buddhist teach- 15. Ajita, who is shown in meditation mudra, his head ings until the time of the next Buddha.”2 Snellgrove, in the covered, and who resides on Mt. Grdhrakuta. Cultural History of Ladakh, called arhats “literally ‘worthy 16. Cudpanthaka, who is shown meditating on Mt. ones’, title given to early disciples of Sakyamuni, who Nemindhara. achieved the state of nirvana.”3 Julia Murray in an essay in As time went on, the list ordering varied and became Latter Days of the Law, adds that the “lohans are presented more complicated. Two additional arhats came into the in the canonical Fazhuji (A Record of the Abiding of the pantheon at a later date, probably during the Northern Dharma, spoken by the Great Arhat, Nandimitra) as ascetic Song period in China, and then in Tibet. They are followers of the Buddha who attained enlightenment by Hvashang and Dharmatala, and so, particularly in Tibet, their own efforts, according to the Hinayana model”, there are depictions of the “eighteen arhats” as well as of the p.140.4 In some traditions it is also carefully noted that the “sixteen”.6 Much later, particularly in China and Japan, we arhats are to be invidiously distinguished from Bodhisattvas, encounter multiple images of the five hundred lohan or being concerned with their own attainment of nirvana and Figure 2. Lin Tinggui (active 2nd half of the 12th century). Lohans Laundering. rakan. not possessed of the attributes of sacrifice for the benefit of China, Southern Song (1127-1279), 1178. Ink and color on silk. 7 others which characterize the Bodhisattvas, all of which only Height: 44 in. (111.8 cm) Width: 20 ⁄8 in. (53.1 cm) Early Writings and Early Images of Arhats emphasizes that over a vast area of the globe and over many Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Charles centuries there has been a great variation in the concept and Lang Freer FO2.224. Photo By John Tsantes. The arhat is first mentioned in literary sources in India portrayal of the arhat. where Buddhism originated, but few visual examples Nandimitra himself characterized the lohans as follows: they will bring about a genuine field of felicity survive. We can take as a source for such images early “The sixteen Great Lohans are all endowed with the enabling those donors to obtain the reward of the portrayals of ascetics. The ultimate ascetic in Indian three kinds of insight and the six kinds of transcen- great fruit (i.e., great enlightenment)-” Buddhism is, of course, Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha. dent knowledge…They have separated themselves From the Fazhuji, quoted p.184, Latter Days of the Meditating figures of the Buddha are familiar images in from the infection of the three worlds (desire, form, Law.5 Asian religious texts of all regions. The Buddha is often and formlessness), and recite and maintain the Tripi- This text which was first translated by the Chinese monk portrayed seated in the cross-legged position associated with taka…As they have received the means of the power Xuanzang in A.D. 645, gives the names, entourage, and yoga and ascetics, reflecting a liberating practice that focuses Figure 1. Kalika. China, Tang dynasty, early to mid 9th century. Ink and color of transcendent knowledge, they lengthen their own 1 1 residence of the traditional sixteen arhats or lohans (of on detachment from the world through physical discipline on paper. Height: 17 ⁄8 in. (43.5 cm) Width: 10 ⁄4 in. (26 cm). The British lives. As long as the Buddha’s law will remain, they Museum, OA1919.1-1.0169* (CH. 00376). (Found in Cave 17, Dunhuang). whom only the first and eleventh, Pindola and Rahula are and meditative practices. Likewise, images of followers of will always protect and maintain it; and with donors, Copyright the British Museum well-known) and lists them as follows: the Buddha and great masters of the faith portray a solitary 8 9 Figure 4. Lohan Vanavasin. China, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Yongle period Figure 5. Lohan Bakula. China, Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Yongle period Figure 6. Lohan Vajraputra. China or Eastern Tibet, 15th century. Hanging 1 3 (1403-1424). Hanging scroll, ink, color and gold on silk. Height: 31 ⁄4 in. (1403-1424). Hanging scroll, ink, color and gold on silk. Height: 30 ⁄8 in. scroll, ink, color and gold on cloth. Height: 32 in. (81.3 cm) Width: 20 in. 3 (79.4 cm) Width: 22 3/8 in. (56.8 cm). On loan to the Brooklyn Museum of (77.2 cm) Width: 19 ⁄8 in. (49.2 cm). On loan to the Brooklyn Museum of (50.8 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Friends of Asian Art, Art, by Judy and Michael Steinhardt, L1994.7.3 Art, by Judy and Michael Steinhardt, L1994.7.1 1992. (1992.198) depicting Kalika, identified by a Tibetan inscription, which The painted image in the format of the hanging scroll can expect much of this iconography to be present in also gives the artist’s name as Do-khon-legs (fig.1). The became a common medium for lohan images which would portraits of lohans too. fragment, part of a cache of scrolls and books found in be placed in the temple sanctum flanking a central figure or Like the monk portraits, lohans are often portrayed with 1907 by Aurel Stein in Cave 17 at Dunhuang in China, is image of Sakyamuni. Such scroll paintings of lohans are great realism. Sometimes haloed in a conventionalized now housed in the British Museum. This image is not an known to have been produced in the Southern and image, the lohan may be depicted seated on a platform isolated phenomenon. At Dunhuang lohans are not rare, as Northern Song periods through the Ming, with fine throne with emblems associated with his roles, and accom- exemplified by the well known sixteen lohan images in examples often being preserved in Japanese temple collec- panied by an animal vehicle and a monk attendant. He Pelliot Cave 76, traditionally dated to the early Song period. tions. Often produced in expensive materials, these works represents both a social and religious role, identified Elsewhere in China, late 9th century, lohans were also are painted in ink on cotton or silk, and detailed with through his dress, often an elaborate layering of lavish known as a subject in painting. Yet, it is often still difficult mineral pigments and gold. brocaded robes, his surroundings (remote, mountainous in viewing these early images, whether in painting or in In the Southern Song period in China, the names of five Figure 3. After Guanxiu (832-912). Pindola-bharadvaja. From a set of Sixteen landscapes), his emblems and accoutrements. He is often sculpture, to precisely identify the specific lohan repre- hundred lohan were inscribed at the Huianyuan Chan Lohans. China, Qing dynasty (1644-1911), 1764. Ink rubbing from a stone 1 shown in a stiffly frontal or three-quarter pose, and oriented sented, or sometimes even if the figure is a lohan. Certain (Japanese, Zen) Temple. The most celebrated group of five engraving. Height: 46 ⁄2 in. (118 cm) Width: 20 in. (50.8 cm). The Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Tiffany Blake, 1942.6 to the spectator. Such an image emphasizes the formality of features sometimes distinguish lohans from other Buddhist hundred lohan images following this early example is a the monastery. The repetition conveys its rigid ceremony of figures: the grotesque physiognomy of wide eyebrows, large group of one hundred paintings by two professional a general schematized ideal.
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